S1 - Ep 411 - East London!

[@OptimusShepherd]

It's pretty clear that you two are still very happily married and in love how charming to listen to you talking. So polite to each other.

[@mrvipworlwide2269]

My Wife and I, are huge fans of your channel. Continue inspiring the rest of the nation to go out and explore this beautiful country that has a lot to offer.

[@lifestylerenaissance1728]

Greetings!! Thank you! 🥰

[@DarthTrotter]

Ah Slummies! Square burgers at Beach Burger then jol at Numbers finishing off at Buccaneers for the 4am sunrise. Good Times!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those do sound like good times! 😁🍔🌅 I've heard of Buccaneers, but haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet.

[@jamesd.casey6722]

I lived in East London back in '85 and '86, where I finished school at Hudson Park High. It has changed big time.

[@DustBugsTravel]

That it has, BIG TIME! We used to holiday there as a family in the 70's and it's a completely different place today. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@SuperLuckao]

Same with PE. It used to be beautiful. Now a dump

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

East London City Hall is where I went to my 1st symphony concert!!! I still remember the conductor's name! Those were the days of Western culture........ Thank goodness ,Cape Town still has the old, beautiful City Hall where we can still hear symphony concerts...!!🎵🎶🎵🎶❤🌹

[@DustBugsTravel]

We were very happy that the East London City Hall still looks every bit as magnificent as I remember it, most probably because it was fenced off. If that's what it takes, so be it. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Methinks symphony concerts in that gorgeous building is sadly a thing of the past. 😢🎼

[@ajl1973]

That's some serious development in East London. Wow!

[@DustBugsTravel]

True, we were also surprised at some of the development since we were in the city last about nine years ago. 🚙🏭🏗️

[@ajl1973]

@DustBugsTravel Definitely... Truth be told, 20+ years is a long time. I wouldn't recognize many parts of Namibia and the Western Cape.

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! Thank you for this interesting trip around East London. A city will always be a city, but those beautiful old buildings of the past remaining part of bustling city life makes this one very special. The OK Bazaar is part of that past. I don't think there is a town/city in our country that has not 'grown up' without an OK! To see the Buffalo Bay harbour after all your effort was also very special. What I like most of the city is that retained so much of the special vegetation of that part of the country. The old trees along most of the streets are very beautiful. Your drive down to Beacon Bay on the road between those majestic trees was stunning. I am ready for the next trip. Trap die petrol! but Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's true, Oxford Street was wild, but the beauty of the old buildings did not pass us by. 🏛💒 My folks went for monthly shopping at OK in Bloemfontein and it was a major outing each time! 😁🛒 There is no denying the natural beauty in and around town and we were privileged to see some of it before darkness fell. 😍🌳 We'll trap the petrol, but stop when we have to, most of the time anyway! 🚙🛑

[@funkdunk]

Thank-you Curtis and Sonia for this incredible visit, I was really looking forward to seeing East London too after so many years since my last visit. The CBD didn't look as bad as has been described to me, however the beachfront and the other areas on the outskirts are definitely areas of preference. I found it interesting that the area that was fairly close to the sea was so run down as similar areas for example in Strand or Cape Town are highly sought after areas with better maintained properties. If East London does ever experience a boom then hopefully those areas will enjoy gentrification.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I suspect safety is a concern in Quigney for it to be so run-down, despite its location. The CBD is chaotic and we were warned repeatedly about safety there too, so it wasn't possible to explore the area where those incredible buildings are as I would've liked to, but it was good to see that many of them are still in good shape. The suburbs are definitely much quieter, cleaner and neater. 🚙🏡

[@funkdunk]

​@@DustBugsTravelYes Quigney is the place, its definitely ripe for renewal, as the beachfront area really looks inviting. It is a pity that one cannot walk around in the CBD anymore, which is of course an issue with most CBDs in SA. Looking forward to the next episode 😀

[@jeanineainscough6698]

We love your channel. Thanks so much for the interesting things you show us. Best of luck and safe travels. 🙏

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's our pleasure to share all the interesting places we visit with you! We appreciate you travelling with us! 🚙😁

[@DesireeMartin-z7s]

I was born in East London in 1944, and lived there until 1967. I went back in the 1980s for a short holiday and was surprised to see the same shops in Oxford Street. There was also a castle in Nahoon - we called it Sofantini's Castle (possibly owned by Sofantini). There was also a lovely picnic area on the Eastern Beach area, called Marina Glen. We used to go there on Sundays after Church, for tea and scones. Thank you for this trip around my home town.

[@mssoliloquy3001]

@@DesireeMartin-z7s The Smartie Train, the scones at the cafe and the wicker chairs and wares being sold on the bend. I also remember the ice cream vendors on bikes ringing their bell, and the fresh water shower on the path after a swim in the sea.

[@MandlaSibanyoni-k7r]

The place has changed so much. Beautiful memories

[@gerdawagner3125]

You should go visit Gonubie and Chintsa. Great treasures.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thanks for the info. 👍🏻 We were in the area almost three weeks ago already and are long back home again in the Western Cape.

[@volksieza]

The EL & Gonubie trip brought back so many memories of the 60s & 70s. Like the Nanaga pies near PE, you forgot to go to the Friesland Milk bar in Quigney, you were one street away 😂😂. Luckily for us, they opened one in Grahamstown and PE. EL still has a race track, a F1 track mind you, one of the last remaining ones of yesteryear still in its original form, ofcourse can only host local racing now to strict F1 rules. But for such a large city, you managed to capture so much in the hour, amazing, well done.

[@mariusroos]

I love EL it is a very nice city. Camped there several times few km out of city close to the racing track. Beautiful old buildings dating back to the days. I love the castle. Thanks for this trip. You are the best to give us all of these trips. Next one i am on board

[@DustBugsTravel]

That castle gym was something else! 🚴🏻 I loved seeing the old buildings in town again and was really happy to see that many of them still seem to be in good shape. Your camping trips sound like fun, the Eastern Cape beauty probably made it all the more special. 🏕️ We shall see you at the pickup point tomorrow! 🚙😁

[@clayauslewis4236]

Great video! East London has been our jumping off point from JHB for our tours around the Eastern Cape. How it's changed since our first visit in 2000! Arriving again early next year!

[@DustBugsTravel]

It has definitely changed, but is very much still the hub of this part of the Eastern Cape. 🚙🏭 Be very vigilant and cautious at all times. I'm passing on the warning which we were given repeatedly before our visit to the city. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Safe travels!

[@Andre_XX]

What a wonderful video of my former hometown. St Dominics Hospital used to be called the Mater Dei Hospital and is where I was born! I grew up in the Quigney (yes we always called it "the" Quigney) in the 60's and early 70's. It was regarded as a poor part of town. Back then I had no idea that one day I would have to leave and make a new life in distant parts of the earth. I last visited in 2001 and don't think I shall ever see it again. I recognised many places, but there have been changes especially along the beachfront. Getting into the harbour was not a problem at all! We often went to watch the ships coming and going and the loading and unloading operations. It was free entertainment! In summer we often used to swim at the Orient Beach and entry was free! "KR" stands for Kaffrarian Rifles. I remember the opening of the German settlers monument. It was a big event and I especially remember they gave cool drinks away to the kids for free!

[@PetroEngelbrecht-q9r]

Curtis and Sonia thank you was nice to see familiar places. Lived in Beacon Bay for many years. Children completed their high schooling and we moved away in 1998. Sonia the best milkshakes are still the Friesland in the Quigney❤. So many places you missed you two but your program is stunning. Oh and what about Gonubie.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We never worry about anything we 'miss' in any town or place, we're just too grateful for the opportunity to travel and for everything we get to see. 🚙😁 Thank you for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed our video.

[@ronnykenny3965]

Yikes, memories, lived up the road from the Moth Hall, worked @ Cambridge school, my children attended there & had a great time growing up there as well. Must say EL looks better on camera😅. Say this with a heavy heart but EL is now known as " slummies" . My whole family & my children still live there. Thank you for this trip Curtis & Sonja, much appreciated. 🚙🙏

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, I also remember the East London of yesteryear where we went on holiday. It was a much different place back then. It's great that we got to drive past a few places with special meaning to you. Thanks for hopping on board, although you know the city very well. 🚙😁

[@dawnbarnes1361]

Oh yes, I worked in Oxford Street at FNB BANK for 32 years then our department (short term insurance) moved to The Quarry in Selborne. for 8 years then I retired after 40 years with one firm 🎉🎉 Those old buildings were part of my life. We use to go have lunch at the Station which had a lovely Bar area where you could socialise and eat. The food was great 🎉 the trains were still running then!! OMW I could write a book on East London and the wonderful life I've had in this city😂🎉 Morningside is a quiet suburb, have had lovely times here as well. My dad & uncle use March around the suburb, Christmas time / old years eve, playing the Bagpipes and some people use to follow behind them. Fun times had by all 🎉

[@DustBugsTravel]

The city I knew in the 70's as a child when we went there on holiday, was a wonderful place and all we had there was fun. Oxford Street looked much different even nine years ago when we were there last. It is chaotic now and rather daunting to drive in. 😳🚙 It certainly sounds like East London has treated you very well over the years, thank you for sharing all those special memories. 😊

[@dawnbarnes1361]

@@DustBugsTravel 👍🙏

[@gothikatay319]

I live in East London been here since the early 80s 😊 when you said no one stop its insanity. I had a good chuckle that's everyday driving here, driving the gauntlet 😂😂 thank you for showing off our forgotten city a true gem.

[@AnikaVanWyk]

Wow East London were beautiful. Never been there. Thanks you two😊

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys very interesting video great you were able to bring back memories as a child holidaying there I had to laugh about window shopping also the bit about the stop signs put your foot down its definitely a big busy city with lots of traffic as you crossed over the buffalo River the size of the ships huge the town hall was impressive Oxford Street so many lovely buildings I like the drive along the beach road with the view of the dunes nice to see the German settlers monument the cricket ground was massive love driving through the old streets the double decker iron bridge a first for me .Cambridge suburb was neat and how great you could get some cabinets and bring back memories great you found the old one 1880 .the jacaranda trees so lovely the names of the streets and the suburbs really had a English vibe the little moths hall set it off the mall was massive and well kept the view of the beach stunning. The drive to the river was lovely and very tranquil. And a first for me a castle gym its great to listen to the memories. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's most definitely a crazy busy place and the driving was just as crazy, it took some getting used to. 🚙😳 Oxford Street has its fair share of beautiful buildings and it was good to see that many of them were still in great shape. I'm glad you enjoyed the view of the dunes as much as we did, they were really cool to see! I'm glad that doubledecker bridge was your first one too, we loved that! 🚙🚂

[@zinimountglobal]

I can't wait to see you travel to these places next, if you are going to at some point:Burgersdorp, Aliwal North, Lady Grey, Molteno, Barkley East, Sterkstroom, Indwe, Elliot, Jamestown. Dordrecht is excluded because I have already requested it.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You'll just have to keep watching and enjoy the places we do get to visit in the meantime! 🚙😁

[@dawnbarnes1361]

😢😢 You were so close to my home, Morningside which is next to Cambridge! I shop at OK Foods!! You rode past my Nieces home next to Cambridge Junior School. I lived up the rode from the Wimpy on the Quigney for about 13 years then we moved to Morningside and I'm still in the same house for about 51 years. When we lived in Quanza street, we didn't have to pay anything to go swim at the Orient Beach. Those were fantastic days 🎉😢❤ Have good memories of living in the Quigney, playing on the rocks and swiming in the gullies below the Wimpy❤, Unfortunately, today is like " The Wild West" 😂 but I still love East London❤ Thank you for a lovely, reminiscent trip🥰 And I now know the new airport name 😂🙈 Do you have family or friends in East London? You were so close but so far from me😢 God bless you both always. take Care😊❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for taking a drive through your own city with the two of us. 🚙😊 We only had so much time before we had to head out, but we were happy with what we got to see. 🏛️💒🌳🌊 I can hear you love your city and that's fantastic! We have friends and family in town, but we had other business in the Eastern Cape, so didn't have much time for visiting this time around.

[@dawnbarnes1361]

@@DustBugsTravel I'll forgive you this time 😁 Joke's, I know how it is! 😉

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Hallooo, definitely not the place I remember from 40 years ago. Thank you.🙃🎶🙏❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hear you. 🚙🤷🏻‍♂️

[@aislingbooks]

What an enjoyable trip through East London and its suburbs. My son flies for FedEX - I saw its sign before you entered the airport and surroundings. He and wife had met fellow pilots from this area when living in Hong Kong before FedEX pulled its hub out of Guangzhou. It was so nice for me to see this region of East SA on your tour, myself. Thank you

[@annawitter5161]

With the longer movies I have to watch in two goes. So I am catching up on this one. Oh well, nice glass of wine, and now to enjoy. I remember East London as small child coming through from the Free State down to Eastern Cape. But I only remember the lagoon. It appears tome that crime and safety are real issues here now. Please be careful. All these old buildings are still so beautiful, would love to buy a house in that neglected old area and do it up. Boy, but driving out there is a madhouse! Looks like the stop sign is optional! Rather you than me in that lot. The station building is totally awesome!! So many burnt out buildings, wonder if it was arson? I have been to Bonza Bay beach, we came here on holiday from PE once and stayed at the Bonza Bay hotel. Its really beautiful out there. Love the castle gym! You go there to work off all those castles consumed at the braai!!! (as in beer)

[@DustBugsTravel]

I read online that the historic Daily Dispatch building at the bottom of Oxford Street went up in flames on 9 May 2022 and vagrants were suspected of starting the fire, so I would imagine that might go for other buildings which burnt down too, but that's pure speculation on my part. 🤷🏻‍♂️ So sad to see such beautiful structures succumb to fire. 😢🏛️🔥

[@altheaherbst4226]

Was born here. Family left in 1954 to go to N Rhodesia. My Granny stayed in Quigney. Still have family members here. Last visit was in 1976. It's changed.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching our video of your city of birth. 🚙😍 Wow, you haven't been there in a long time. We used to holiday there in the 70's and the place is almost not recognisable today. 😢🤷🏻‍♂️

[@kategalt1824]

Gonubie boardwalk definitely worth a short side-trip from EL!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Good to know! 🚙👍🏻

[@thinadlamini4671]

I ❤ East London

[@pumelelemagadla567]

I enjoyed the video so much and I just subscribed to your channel.. I Miss EL can't wait to visit soon. Thank U guys

[@cocochanel6495]

The bridge at the port with the rail and Auto combination is similar to a bridge here in Edmonton Alberta It is called the High level bridge. It spans the North Saskatchewan River. The difference is the trains run on the top tier and the cars on the bottom. This is still a functional bridge for cars and trains. Opened in 1913. Thank you for your wonderful videos.

[@ronnykenny3965]

Batting bridge , my grandsons favourite fishing spot but sadly 1 can't go alone

[@DustBugsTravel]

I understand completely. Both that it's your grandson's favourite fishing spot and that you're not able to visit the place alone. It's incredibly beautiful there with the wide river and all the trees going up that embankment. 🎣🌊🌳

[@davidthompson5963]

Hay guys welcome to my home city East London

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you kindly, it was good to visit again after almost a decade! 🚙😁

[@artyschopy]

Saw this video last month from Europe, where I live nowadays. I knew I was going to pass through East London on my December holiday travels and made a note to check out that Cabanossi. Hot tip! In fact OK Foods in Cambridge turned out to be generally a gem of a store. Top notch slap chips, something else unavailable in Europe which I’d been craving

[@SuperLuckao]

Was in fremantle port i n perth today. Its full of old buildings..i enjoyed it

[@Andre_XX]

Freo is also built into a river mouth, but nobody ever refers to it as a "river port" the way they do with EL.

[@wildchild6247]

Wish we knew you were coming to our town, would have told you some places to visit, please excuse our dirty down :(

[@DustBugsTravel]

Appreciate the offer. 😊 We prefer exploring on our own and enjoy anything and everything we happen upon. We're not only after the traditional tourist hotspots, we enjoy the obscure and (to others) ordinary just as much. It was good to visit your city again after an absence of nine years! 🚙😁

[@MrBaba1955]

Curtis and Sonia ,thank you so much for visiting my home town (slummies) East London, a lot has changed from my visit in 2017 . Sorry you couldn't find the harbour which is accessible from a slip road just before the Fleet Street police station on the right . Was good to see the KF (Kafferian Rifles) drill hall where we had to report to for our national service. Settlers Way is madness with stop streets across the freeway . Admittedly EL is large city with extensive suburbs I was expecting more of that like Nahoon etc and perhaps out towards Cintsa East and West . Maybe next time 😊

[@prodeejaymlambo]

Most non nguni speaking South Africans can’t pronounce Xhosa like you did 👌👌👌

[@vumba1331]

The car assembly plant on the rhs just before the Buffalo River, now Mercedes, used to be called CDA, Car Distributors and Assemblers, they used to assemble Jaguar cars there along with some other models, my mom worked there. The battery place was orginally the Chloride/Exide company making batteries for the cars. Was there in school in the 60s, great time, no payments for any beaches, could go anywhere, great place to grow up, good memories, left 50 years ago. Thx the the drive through, appreciated. Edit - spelling

[@hazelchetty8912]

Hi. We have relocated to East London at the end of Jan this year. We live in Haven Hills near the OK. East London is beautiful. The beaches are amazing. We want our families from.KZN to visit East London.

[@habbyhome3054]

Aquarium. Worked there from 1998 to 2017

[@DustBugsTravel]

Cool! 🐬🐟🐡🦀🪼

[@guillaumedeswardt6876]

Ha-Ha. Also experienced the no stop stop street about a month ago. No traffic rules apply in the CBD area.

[@esconis5304]

Never knew East London had a tropical beach, how far from Bexley? 🥺

[@DustBugsTravel]

About 13600km. 🇿🇦🇬🇧

[@RyanDH]

The last time I was in East London was about 30 years ago...my father took us down there to visit his father (might have been around Christmas)...and then we briefly visited there about 9 years later for his funeral. When I say briefly, it really was briefly like as we drove down, went to the funeral and then drove back. Both my father and myself ended up sleeping an entire day when we got back. Not the type of trip I would recommend to anyone...😅

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sounds rough. We spent a little more time in the city than you did. 🚙😁

[@SangMarocain]

Greeting from Morocco

[@simphiweclement4656]

Hi Dust Bugs, I wonder why you don't visit the new blue trains that have been introduced?

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's not possible for us to visit every single place of interest in the limited time we have to travel. It sounds very intriguing though. 😁🚉

[@michaelwarren7729]

The KR Building you saw past the Fleet Street police station is the Kaffarian Rifles Association. My Dad was an officer there. Spent majority of my life there.

[@tonyrogers8318]

The airport was called Ben Schoeman Airport - I believe it was named after the then transport minister who opened it. When did it become East London Airport? I thought it went straight from Ben Schoeman to King Phalo?

[@DustBugsTravel]

The airport was renamed to East London Airport in 1994 according to Wikipedia. It was Ben Schoeman Airport from 1966 until 1994. ✈️

[@startingoverbygrace]

So lovely. Thank you showing us this side of the continent. Is East London, SA a segregated area?

[@DustBugsTravel]

No, East London is the second largest industrial centre in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is not a segregated area. 🇿🇦

[@jaydenmeise8853]

you must check the beach front now they have just put up the christmas lights

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

I liked your sentence: I have no idea who king.......is! Neither do I!!!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

We do now, but only after reading up a little about King Phalo! 👑✈️

[@luthovellem865]

Im sure we passeed each other yesterday.

[@imandeponselle5798]

Those stops were when the were working on the road.

[@habbyhome3054]

St Anne's was my school from 1981 to 1987

[@DustBugsTravel]

Back in the day when East London was still a different place. 📚

[@Sthmohtwenty]

My best pal was was butterworth

[@PetroEngelbrecht-q9r]

You missed the Sofiantini Castle in Nahoon

[@nelsonchinasamy9857]

What is the name of East London today? I have never been to this city but driven past it one time to Cape Town. I am quite happy with the current name but the powers in control have different ideas. I have a friend there and want to visit.

[@DustBugsTravel]

The city is still called East London and falls under the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. 🐃 I'm not aware of a name change having been approved, although there has been mention of it being in the works over the last few years.

[@vuyisamasiza]

Like the video people, like the video ! That's the least that you can do !

[@DustBugsTravel]

Appreciate the support. 👍👍

[@bjornzorger3731]

Please can you go to komga .

[@DustBugsTravel]

You must've missed the date at the beginning of the video. We were in the area almost three weeks ago and are long back home in the Western Cape. 🚙😁

[@habbyhome3054]

I worked at first national battery from 1994 to 1997

[@DustBugsTravel]

Interesting. You must know the area very well. 🚙😁

[@habbyhome3054]

@@DustBugsTravelwas born there in 1975 and grew up there. Only moved towns in 2017.

[@GALAXYGURUSA]

There was a,place back in 1992 called embassy flats,I,wonder if it is still there,had a lot of cockroaches lol. Anyways,my father and I walked down the street to buy a newspaper and we passed a sort of Victorian style dinner or hotel with a lot of ceiling fans and we had a coke there,wonder if it is still there? I dont have a clue where it is situated though? It had a,blue painted roof. I remember the humidity was quite high that day,I,could hardly breathe, wonder if it is,higher than in Durban at times?

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm not familiar with Embassy Flats or the Victorian diner , but I don't know the city that well. I've spent quite a bit of time in both Durban and East London and EL is nowhere near as humid as Durban in my experience. 😅

[@HeliPilot.co.z]

You are Home affirmative

[@luthovellem865]

Yes you still have to pay to get into orient beach

[@Игорь-з1т9г]

Эх как хочется уехать из России! Я бы поехал в ЮАР! Но не понятно что там с безопасностью!? И можно ли там жить и работать без гражданства!?

[@DustBugsTravel]

South Africa is a country with its fair share of crime, so vigilance at all times is key. You may live and work in the country with the appropriate visa / permit and don't necessarily have to be a citizen. 🇿🇦

[@Игорь-з1т9г]

@@DustBugsTravel Ok!

[@arielyom110]

Come to Brazil

[@vonrecht1236]

For what it's worth...Daimler Benz = Mercedes Benz

[@DustBugsTravel]

Noted, thank you. 😁🚗

[@vonrecht1236]

Den deutschen Einwandern?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, that's what it said. 🏛️🇧🇪

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

@@DustBugsTravelhihi de Duitse vlag is 🇩🇪 al is een piepklein deel van de Belgen 🇧🇪 ook Duitstalig. En de Belgische frietsaus is waarschijnlijk overal Eingewanderd 😄🍟